Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott is a powerful book that talks about the author's real-life journey to becoming a best-selling author and person of faith (or is it, her journey to becoming a person of faith and also a best-selling author.)  I was struck by her honesty in laying out her problems and addictions earlier in her adult life (including both alcohol and drug addictions over a decade) and  the impact of her son's birth, which began a new chapter in her life as a single mom.

I was most engaged by how Anne Lamott has carved out a path of sanity for herself by staying true to her own internal wisdom, forged by a Christian faith tradition that she has nurtured with many imperfect souls in her local community in California.  Her humanity shines through in her ability to find the humor and wit in the craziest of situations.  May we each be consoled by being able to give up our own tenuous grasp on "the perfect life," while embracing a life that relies on a power greater than ourselves to guide us and provide clarity as to our real mission and purpose in this life.  Lamott has surely found hers in sharing her writing gift with us.